In this Examiner editorial the corruption seen in the criminal cases of William Jefferson, Randy "Duke" Cunningham and others is compared to the widespread and growing corruption that is taking place via the earmarking process.

The congressional "favor factory" described by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramof thrives because individual congressmen can still anonymously direct federal funds to themselves or family members, political allies, campaign contributors or personal staff members without fear of being held accountable. Such earmarking captures the essence of congressional abuse of office for personal gain.

While federal prosecutors don't claim Jefferson used earmarks in his solicitations, let it be noted that the same disdain for the public trust epitomized in the crimes of which the Louisiana Democrat is accused is cultivated by the earmarking process.

"Earmarks have exploded in number and cost under GOP control of Congress and Congress got a black eye when former Rep. Randy Cunningham, R-Calif., admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for earmarking projects to defense contractors. The Bush administration and budget hawks have protested in vain"Fox (of all places) News

When it comes to the Earmark, it looks like the '94 Reform Republicans wrote the book.

"But House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. David Obey's recent disclosure that his panel has received more than 36,000 earmark requests in just five months -- more than double the total for all of 2005 -- makes clear that many in Congress are hopelessly in the grip of what Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., calls "federal spending addiction."

Eveyone knows who the traitorous criminals are in congress now don't they.

In his first interview as the chairman of the Arkansas Republican Party, Dennis Milligan told a reporter that America needs to be attacked by terrorists so that people will appreciate the work that President Bush has done to protect the country.

"At the end of the day, I believe fully the president is doing the right thing, and I think all we need is some attacks on American soil like we had on [Sept. 11, 2001 ], and the naysayers will come around very quickly to appreciate not only the commitment for President Bush, but the sacrifice that has been made by men and women to protect this country," Milligan said.

Is that kind of thinking representative of the GOP? What are people to think when they read the paper?

Well, John Fisk, would you rather have parts of the executive branch appointed by the man elected by the people to direct it or would you rather have members of the legislative branch unconstitutionally interfering in it.

This is Constutution 101, folks. The Attorney General being appointed by the one elected by the will of the people is preferable to the job being done by bureaucrats under the illicit control of a Senator for Life, Schumer.
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The issue is one of illegalities. You try to frame the argument as if those are the only 2 choices. Much of what Gonzalas has approved violates not only the Forth Amendment of the US Constitution, but international law as well. End of story, I don't care what reasons Gonzalas had for his justification.

Well, John Fisk, would you rather have parts of the executive branch appointed by the man elected by the people to direct it or would you rather have members of the legislative branch unconstitutionally interfering in it.

This is Constutution 101, folks. The Attorney General being appointed by the one elected by the will of the people is preferable to the job being done by bureaucrats under the illicit control of a Senator for Life, Schumer.
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Posted by: kim at June 12, 2007 07:27 AM

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

NO THIS is Constitution 101. Folks.

Warrantless wiretaps violate the Forth Amendment.
Warrantless searches and seizures violate the Forth Amendment.
Torture violates the Geneiva Convention, and is unamerican.
The list goes on and on.

The wiretapping was ruled illegal. Read the Forth Amendment, compare it to Bush policy. If you are unconcerned about huge breaches in constitutional law, you are truly stupid. The fact that the Geneva Convention applies to uniformed combatants is a technicality. The spirit of the law has deemed torture to be unacceptable. The Bush Admin has simply made an end run around it. They found a loophole. It does not make it right. Why would you defend it? You are so caught up in defending your political heros, you loose sight of right and wrong. Even Bush's Attorneys were telling him this crap was not legal.

You probably defend Enron.

Kim, you are the very worst kind of loudmouth.

The NSA program is legal, and the Geneva Conventions apply to uniformed combatants. John Fisk is in lala land.
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Posted by: kim at June 13, 2007 09:42 PM